Report suspected drunk drivers: campaign urges people to step forward

Morning North6:21High behind the wheel

Police could soon have a new tool to use on suspected drug-impaired drivers. Police say there are just as many drug impaired drivers as drunk drivers. We spoke about the issue with Andrew Murie, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

A woman in Sturgeon Falls wants people to take an active role in reporting suspected drunk driving.

Lisa-Marie Hutchinson said she is haunted by the thought that someone could have stopped the drunk driver who went on to kill an 18-year-old boy last August in Sudbury.

In that case, a court heard that the man's acquaintance watched him leave in his truck after a night of drinking, but didn't try to stop him.

Hutchinson has created a business card that includes the words, "Don't turn a blind eye to drunk drivers. Report it." The card can be found on and printed from her Facebook page.

She wants people to “put it on their front doors, or the windows of their homes, so people coming into their homes — if they're going to be drinking — know this household will not tolerate it.”

Hutchinson remarked it can be a difficult thing to intervene but people have to start doing it.

“You know you don't want to be ... the so-called rat. But ... I'd rather feel the wrath of that drunk driver than the guilt of what could possibly happen.”

​Sudbury police constable John Coluzzi said he welcomes calls from the public about suspected drunk drivers, and agreed the alternative to not doing so can be far worse.

“You feel terrible knowing you could have made that phone call to at least alert the police type of thing,” he said.

“We may have had a car in that area that could have stopped that vehicle.”

Coluzzi said police get about one call from the public a day about erratic drivers. He urges anyone who suspects an impaired driver to call 9-1-1.